 December 12th 2008
 Miscellaneous
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One recent post that seemed to get a reaction was the discussion of my filing system problems. I asked you all to share your own filing setup and I got many responses (if you are having a filing dilemma of your own be sure to check out all the comments on that post, it should give you a few ideas). I’ve shied away from doing my filing on my computer because the prospect of scanning and tagging something every time I got mail went against what I was trying to achieve. However Marina Martin’s approach was very persuasive.
Marina Martin: “Get rid of your paper files and scan all your documents with a ScanSnap S510. I’ve been an insanely happier person since making this decision. Now I can file a document in multiple locations (say, a taxes folder and a health insurance folder) and I can use the search function on my computer to search the text of even the fine print of the back of my cell phone bill. If there’s ever a fire or a flood, I’m 100% backed up and protected, too.”
Another post that got a big reaction was my argument against batching your work. Batching is a common productivity tip but is it really that effective? Scott Young explained why it is so popular.
Scott Young: “Every task tends to have a small amount of start-up time to get into the flow. You need to open your files, get prepared and even mentally get into the right state to perform a task. If you batch, these little hiccups are eliminated so you can handle a bunch of tasks in less time than spreading them out.”
Dean Johnson: “Batching is a great deal like computer networking. You have two primary factors; bandwidth and latency. You optimize your system for the factor that is dominant. Take, for instance, something like writing out bills. Getting them done requires fetching the checkbook, getting a writing instrument, returning chequebook, etc. That is the latency of the transaction. Batching the writing of cheques reduces that latency and thus overall time spent doing it. If you have no latency in the transaction, then batching is just a simplifying act, rather than a time saver.”
Going further back I asked the readers what sort of topics they would cover if there was a personal development course taught in schools. There were some great responses to this and it was interesting to see, given the current economic climate, that financial studies was a common suggestion.
Lori Hoeck: “The biggest thing you can teach, which will profoundly change everything, is how to overcome insecurity. Self-confidence allows you to develop any other aspect of life, whether it be finances or organizational skills, with ease and fun.”
Finally, it what has been one of my favorite posts recently, I discussed the five simplest healthy habits that I personally I have used to get myself on the healthy living ladder. The post covered small, simple steps that everyone should be able to pick up without too much trouble. However, one comment emphasised the importance of regular exercise. I always feel better (physically and mentally) after a good workout so it’s an important tip to bear in mind.
Lynstly: “I think the most important [tip] is the least stressed. Exercise. A healthy, and I believe very easy, routine is twenty minutes of intense cardiovascular activity every other day… not hard to fit into most schedules, and you’ll feel the benefits immediately.”
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